tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138293411205540233.post4392346472297763503..comments2023-08-07T05:06:49.686-06:00Comments on Jake Green's Official Blog: The Greatest Threat to Our Freedom (and it is not terrorism)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6138293411205540233.post-19165854723910234712009-02-22T17:41:00.000-07:002009-02-22T17:41:00.000-07:00I think it is very important that a distinction be...I think it is very important that a distinction be made between Stalinist Communism and socialist practices. Elder Benson, politically, was about as far-right as it gets. He was a major advocate of the John Birch Society and often used McCarthy-esque rhetoric in accusing many of being communists. (He even accused Eisenhower of being a Communist-sympathizer). For much of this, Benson was reprimanded by Pres. Mckay and other church authorities above him. He was even sent out to look over the Eastern European missions to get him out of the states for a few years, with the hope that seeing other LDSaints in socialist states would soften him up some. It didn't work.<BR/><BR/>Presidents Hugh B. Brown and N. Elden Tanner (both socialists) were very critical of Benson's actions - the former on a few occasions publically criticized Benson in general conferences. While Benson at times got support (or implied support) from the ailing McKay, J Fielding Smith, and Kimball, there is also evidence that he didn't acquire that support in manners that we might expect from general authorities. For details on this see McKay's biography or Mike Quinn's second volume of his Mormon Hierarchy series.<BR/><BR/>While the piece you posted was printed in the Ensign, it must also be remembered that the Ensign then was much more liberally (free) in what it printed, and is not as conservatively edited as it is today.<BR/><BR/>While Benson repeatedly used fierce anti-communist rhetoric in his few decades as an apostle, it pretty much disappeared when he was called to lead the Church as the prophet. I don't think this sudden shift should be ignored and should be a measure by which to judge his previous anti-communist rhetoric.the narratorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774503436545764912noreply@blogger.com